The Ulundi Local Municipality is located in north-eastern KwaZulu-Natal. It covers anarea ofapproximately 3 250 km².It includes the traditional authorities of Buthelezi, Hlatswayo, Jama, LukwaziNtuli, Mbatha, Mpungose, Ndebele, Ntombele, Usustu, Ximba, and Zondo. Approximately half of the municipal area consists of commercial farms and the area supports a substantial agricultural community.

Ulundi town represents the only urban area in the municipal area, and therefore plays an important role in the provision of social and economic facilities to the total population of Ulundi. This places enormous pressure on the urban area for the delivery of services. A significant number of households in the rural area are headed by females, who are usually more disadvantaged in terms of resources and education.

Dipaleseng Local Municipality is situated in the southern part of the GertSibande District Municipality. Balfour is located in the heart of world-renowned coalfields and the Goldfields belt. This modern and predominantly industrial town is located in close proximity (80km) to the nationally well-known industrial areas of Johannesburg. The Balfour/Siyathemba urban area is 340km from Nelspruit and 80km from Johannesburg. The internationally known abattoir, the “biggest abattoir in Africa”, is found in Dipaleseng (Balfour town), with a vast number of by-products including inorganic chemicals, fertilizers, etc.being manufactured in the area.